New Valve Oil to Test!

[davewerden]

This looks promising. The nice folks from Houghton Bland Low Brass provided some new synthetic oil and grease to test. I cleaned the horn today and applied the #1 oil. It "goes on" more like a thin petroleum oil and spreads easily on the surface. The action is at least as good as with Hetmann #1.

One goal of the mixture is to lessen the "gunk" build up. I'll let you know how that part goes!

I'll move on to the grease in a bit. The #3 oil might work for my 1895 tenor horn.

[davewerden]

Update: I tried some of the slide grease today, and it is easily the best I have used. The oil is working great, too, but this has not been a long-term test yet.

If you are interested, they are available from this store:

https://houghtonhorns.com/collection...idt-lubricants

They were exhibiting at the UCA event where I performed last weekend and are nice folks with a true brass mindset. I assume they also helped to fund the UCA event, which is why I hope you would buy the oil from them if it interests you.

[iMav]

Too many options for me to choose (having zero context on what to try/use).

[davewerden]

For Adams valves, use:

Valve Oil 1 Synthetic Light Piston 50ml with Dropper

For the slides, use:

Slide Gel 7 Synthetic 30ml with Dropper

Both are shown in the photo above. The #3 oil in the photo is for "vintage" valves that might leak, like my tenor horn from 1895:

[aroberts781]

Unrelated to the oils, but that is a really cool looking tenor horn Dave!

Back to the topic at hand, I recently noticed some gunky buildup in the tuning slides of my New Standard using Blue Juice on the valves and Hetman tuning slides grease. I don't recall having this much gunk with the same combo on my Schiller, so if I decide to do some experimenting with other lubricants I might give these a try.

[davewerden]

Unrelated to the oils, but that is a really cool looking tenor horn Dave!

Thanks! I bought it in high school from the Salvation Army Thrift Store for $5. It needed a water key cork and a patch for a cracked tube. I used it in college for a valve trombone on a couple dance gigs.

Back to the topic at hand, I recently noticed some gunky buildup in the tuning slides of my New Standard using Blue Juice on the valves and Hetman tuning slides grease. I don't recall having this much gunk with the same combo on my Schiller, so if I decide to do some experimenting with other lubricants I might give these a try.

If you decide to check out the oils, please report back!

[davewerden]

Update: it's still not been a long-term test, but I'm very impressed so far. In fact, I just ordered 3 bottles of the light oil and 1 of the grease.

[bbocaner]

Meinlschmidt is one of the top makers of rotary valves and is in the Munich suburbs. They used to recommend Hetman oils for use with their valves, and these oils seem to use the same grading nomenclature that Hetman does -- which makes me think it might possibly just be repackaged Hetman, but some of the marketing makes me think they changed suppliers and developed their own line.

[davewerden]

Meinlschmidt is one of the top makers of rotary valves and is in the Munich suburbs. They used to recommend Hetman oils for use with their valves, and these oils seem to use the same grading nomenclature that Hetman does -- which makes me think it might possibly just be repackaged Hetman, but some of the marketing makes me think they changed suppliers and developed their own line.

The marketing is annoyingly vague! But I suppose they don't want to give away too much info.

I can say that in my testing so far, both the #1 oil and the grease are superior to the comparable Hetman products. The valves and slides feel smoother, and the valves seem quicker.

The only thing that would discourage me from continuing to use this is if it causes some kind of deposits/etc. in the horn that Hetman did not. Time will tell.

[enhite]

I'm someone who has had difficulty with synthetic valve oils. My spit seems to cause the synthetic oils (Hetmann, Yamaha, etc.) to "gunk up." I would be interested if the Houghton Horns oil is any different for people like me.

[davewerden]

I'm someone who has had difficulty with synthetic valve oils. My spit seems to cause the synthetic oils (Hetmann, Yamaha, etc.) to "gunk up." I would be interested if the Houghton Horns oil is any different for people like me.

Are you saying that you do NOT get the gunk with petroleum oil? For me it seems able to show up with either.

[iMav]

Is the "Slide Oil 5" appropriate for trombone slides? (or do they have a product for such usage?)

Also, on my Adams E3, the second valve slide is loose enough that it has simply fallen out a couple of times while playing. Would you recommend the (what I assume to be) thicker tuning slide grease (as opposed to the gel)?

[iMav]

Hopefully, I'll be another happy customer!

[davewerden]

Is the "Slide Oil 5" appropriate for trombone slides? (or do they have a product for such usage?)

I have only just heard of the company, and the only products I have are the 3 shown in the photo. So I'm clueless about the other products.

Also, on my Adams E3, the second valve slide is loose enough that it has simply fallen out a couple of times while playing. Would you recommend the (what I assume to be) thicker tuning slide grease (as opposed to the gel)?

I assume a thicker grease would be the solution, but I don't know how the gel fits in. However, in the category of slide greases I have found that synthetics seems to hold up better, so I'd try a thick synthetic tuning slide lubricant on your 2nd slide.

BTW, I'm assuming your slide is pushed all the way in. There is so little grabbing area on the short leg that the 2nd slides on euphoniums don't do well if they are pulled. On the range of Besson/Sterling/Adams euphoniums I have had, I've experienced 2nd slides that are loose, just right, and tight. The variance seemed greater than on the other valve slides, and stories of 2nd slides coming out during performances are as old as time! So it would be good to experiment and find the right lube for anyone whose 2nd slide is loose.

BTW2, in cases where the 2nd slide is tight, I still like a synthetic lube, though a thinner one would be good. But in the event the 2nd slide gets stuck, it is possible to hold the horn somewhat level and blow the water through to the main slide. In that sense, a stuck 2nd slide is not as "fatal" to a performance as is a loose one that falls out!

[iMav]

Yes, the slide is all the way in.

I will try a thicker grease.